Philistia and the philistines in the Iron Age IIA

There is no question that archaeological excavations of Philistine strata have broadened our knowledge of the Philistine material culture. The overwhelming majority of publications focuses on their arrival and the early settlement of the Southern Levant in Iron Age I. Nevertheless, the continuation of the Philistine population as a distinct ethnic entity in Iron Age IIA is evident from excavations carried out at the major Philistine sites. Whereas, the Philistine material culture during Iron Age I is undeniably distinct, the later Philistine material shows signs of local influences similar to that of the Southern Levant. This study focuses on the Iron Age IIA Philistine finds. Interpreting these later artifacts within their broader regional contexts provides a greater understanding of the interactions between the neighboring Levantine cultures/ethnicities.